Packing material



Jan. 6, 1942. w. J. DE REAMER 2,268,702

PACKING MATERIAL Filed June 7, l1959 2- sheets-sheet 1 wm l Jan. 6, 1942. i w. J. DE REAME 2,268,702

PACKING MATERIAL Filed June '7, 1939 2 Sheets-Shelet 2 Patented Jan. 6, 1942 PACKING MATERIAL William J. De Reamer; Crown Point, Ind., assignor to Mapes Consolidated Manufacturing Company, Griffith, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application June 7, 1939, Serial No. 277,779 (ci. 217-265) l 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in p acking material and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. The packing material illustrated and described herein is especially adapted for -use in connection with so-called cellular fillers for packing eggs in a conventional egg Case.

The conventional egg case of commerce is generally made to standard dimensions and takes the form of an open top box with a transverse partition dividing the case into two compartments each substantially 121/2 inches deep and 111A; inches square. Each compartment is adapted to hold dozen eggs arranged in ve tiers or layers of 3 dozen each and whereby the case has a capacity of dozen eggs with an average weight of about 52 lbs. Such a packed case usually includes a cover for the open. top thereof and which cover is nailed at its ends to the ends of the case.

Heretofore it has been the practice to provide a specially constructed pad for boththe top and bottom of each compartment, to protect the eggs in the associated layers, in connection with different types of pads for the intermediate layers of eggs. As an example of the pads. used at the top and bottom of each compartment, reference is made to my prior Patent 1,954,586 of April 10, 1934, and as an example of the intermediate pads, reference is made to the Koppelman and Cooper Patent 1,429,27 of September 12, 1922.

With an egg case packed with the patented pads above mentioned, the packer is required to stock two different types of pads and in such a packed case, the Weight of the eggs, pads and cellular fillers is all imposed upon the bottom pad. Therefore, this pad had to be made relatively deep, thick or of such vertical dimensions as to make it support the weight of the eggs, pads and iillers above, Without crushing. The pad of my prior patent functioned ably in this respect. However, its vertical dimensions are such as to prohibit its use between theseveral layers or tiers of eggs throughout the case because they would make the top layer of eggs so project above the top of the case as to prevent the application of the usual cover.

One of the objects of the presentinvention is to provide a packing material in the form of a cushion pad having seats each including a group of hollow upstanding projections so formed as to provide an area of contact conforming to associated parts of the egg to engage upon each seat and whereby the egg is not so apt to tip from its desired position upon the seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packing material of this kind and wherein the hollow projections forming the seats are not only formed for a betterA engagement by an egg but have a greater resistance to crushing under the load imposed thereupon.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide a packing material which can be used throughout the case from top to bottom kand which is symmetrical about its four sides so that there is no necessity to dispose a certain side thereof in a definite relation with respect to any particular side of the egg case compartment in which it is used.

The above mentioned objects of the invention as well -as others, together with the advantages thereof will more fully appear as the specication proceeds.

In the drawings: l

Fig. lis a plan view on a full size scale of the egg receiving side of a quarter corner fragment of the improved pad, `a part of the cell forming filler used therewith appearing in dotted lines thereon.

Fig. 2 is a detail full size vertical sectional View through the pad fragment shown in Fig. 1, the plane of the section being taken throughV the egg receiving seats thereof as indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is another full size vertical sectional View through the pad fragment appearing in Fig. l, as taken on the line 3-3 thereof. Y

Fig. 4 is also a full size vertical sectional View through the pad fragment as taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a View in side elevation of an egg case packed withy the improved pads and associated fillers, apart of the side of the case being broken away better to disclose the invention.

Fig. 6 is a Vertical sectional view through one end of the packed egg case, before'the cover has been `applied and illustrates more particularly the overagehoi` excess in height of the stack of pads and fillers over the depth'of th-e egg case compartment containing the stack.

Fig.'7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 and shows the stack as having yielded in height to approximate the depth of the associated compartment as when the Iassociated end of the cover has been nailed in position to close said compartment.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the top portion of one end of the case with its cover in its closed position and shows the topmost pad in the stack as reversed face-for-face to arrange the egg receiving side of the pad downward.

The improved packing material in this instance is illustrated as employed in connection with standard unitary cellular fillers in a standard egg case. Such a case, which is indicated as a whole at I0, in Fig. 5, is generally made of wood veneer and cleats, to include sides Il, ends l l2, a bottom I3, and a central transverse partition I4 which divides the case into two open top compartments. A cover l5 isy included as apart appears in Fig. 1.

The compartments of the egg case have a standard dimension, being approximately 121/2 inches deep and about 111/2 inches square.- The cellular fillers employedare of the standard unitary, folding, interlocking strip type. Each unit comprises two sets of seven strips each and which strips are indicated at I6. These strips are all of the same length and height and yapproximate 111/2 inches in length and 21A, inches in height. When said units are opened up into cellular form, they each provide 36 egg receiving cells each approximately 1%, inches square. Five of such cellular fillers are employed in each compartment of the case so that each compartment holds 15 dozen eggs, giving a capacity of 30 dozen of eggs for the case. f

I1 indicates as a whole, one of the improved cushion pads, there being six of such pads Vused in each egg case compartment or twelve to the case.

Such pads are arranged one on the bottom, one on the top and four intermediate the fillers I6 to coact therewith in forming a stack of packed tiers.

Each pad I1 which is a scant 111/2 'inches square, is preferably made of a molded pulp. It includes a sheet-like body portion I8 with a depressed margin I9 extending about the four sides of the pad and connected thereto by a down wardly and outwardly inclined wall 29, the corners of said margin being rounded as shown. The angle of inclination of the wall 20 is such that it easily releases from the mold in which the pad is made. The sheet-like body portion and the margin are each le of an inch thick and the top surface of the body portion is spaced approximately 1A of an inch above the bottom surface of the margin I9 as appears from the dimensions given on Fig. 2. With the dimension given it is apparent that the top surface of the sheet-like body portion is T3.; of an inch higher than the top surface of the margin I9.

In the marginal part of the four sides of the sheet-like body portion I8 are substantially semi.

circular recesses 2I spaced equal distances apart and in each corner of the sheet-like body portion is a quarter circular recess 22.

Within the sheet-like body portion, in longitudinal and transverse rows, arranged in line with the recesses 2 I, are depressions 23. Each depression 23 has a downwardly and inwardly tapering annular side Wall 24 and a flat bottom 25, the latter being disposed in the plane of the margin I9. The side wall 24 of said recess has substantially the same angle of inclination as the wall 2Il before mentioned.

The depressions 23 are spaced apart in both directions of the pad, on centers 1% inches apart and which centers correspond to the distance between the intersections of the strips ,I6 of the associated ller when the same is in its open or expanded condition as will later appear.

Rising from top side of the sheet-like body portion and arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows thereon are egg receiving seats 25 arranged between the rows of depressions 23 in both directions of the pad. Each seat in this instance includes a relatively shallow circular platform, that comprises an upwardly and inwardly inclined annular wall 2'1 and a top wall 28, the

wall 21 having the same angle of inclination as the side wall 24 of the depressions 23 and into which parts of the walls 21 merge so as to form continuations thereof. l The lines of mergence of said walls are disposed in planes extending diagonally of the pad on lines passing through the center of adjacent seats and depressions. Preferably the top surface of the wall 28 is spaced 1% of an inch above the top surface of the sheet-like body portion I8.

Disposed about the margin of the top Wall 28 above mentioned, is a group of upwardly projecting article engaging supports 29 spaced an equal distance apart from the center of the top wall 28. Each projection is substantially in the form of a rounded top circular dome and each projection is so formed in that side disposed in a plane radiating from the center of the topjwall, as to provide an area of contact 30 for the 'egg to engage thereupon. With an egg, th'e end thereof may be considered as a part of a sphere and therefore such areas 30 are made as'con- `cavities conforming to those areas of theend of the egg that engages upon the same.'

That part of the top/Wall 28 of each seat, between said projections 29 is concaved as at 3I to conform to the above mentioned part ofthe sphere and therefore said 'areas' 30 are made as continuations of said concaved part 3l ofthe wall 28. As shown therein the projections or supports 29 are four in number and are of such diameter and are so disposed on the top wall 28 that those parts of the projections are supports opposite the areas 30 merge into and form continuations of parts of the side Walls 2`1.of the seat as a whole. The top surface of `the wall 28 of each seat is preferably spaced 1% of an inch above the top surface of the body portion I8 and the top of each projection 29 rises T36 of an inch above the top surface of the wall28A so as to be disposed of an inch above thetop surface of the body portion.

As before mentioned, the centersof theprojection 23 are spaced apart to accord withr the spacing between the strips I6 of the cellular fillers employed therewith and when each unit is opened up into cellular form and is positioned upon an associated pad I1, the intersections of the strips are positioned axiallyfof the projections 23 and the semi-circular and quarter circular recesses 2I-22, with an eggseatvconstructed as before mentioned, arranged within each cell as best appears in Fig. 1. k

In packing a case I0 with the improved cushion pads, in connection with the standard or conventional fillers before mentioned, a pad is placed in the bottom of the compartment of the case, one on each side of the partition I4 with theegg receiving side up. The areas of contact between the pad and the bottom of each compartmentthen will be that area as defined by the margin I9 and bottom ofthe projections 23. As the arrangement of the seats and the projections is symmetrical, so as to be the same along all four sides Vof the pad, no care need be taken to place the pad in the compartment with av particular ymargin arranged with respect toA a particularyside of the associated compartment.

A cellular lleris then expanded or opened up into its rectangular cell-forming condition and placed within each compartment so that its bottom edge rests uponthe top surface of the body portion I8 of the rst pads placed inthe compartments. With the fillers ar-ranged in this manneneach cell formedby the stripsthereof surrounds a seat that is located centrally of the cell. An egg is then placed, preferably with the small end down, in each cell. The egg will then engage upon the areas 30 of the projections 29 of the associated seat and the tip end of the egg will be spaced slightly from the central concaved portion 3| of the wall 28 when the egg is a relatively large one. When the cells have each received an egg, the first tier or layer in the compartment is constituted.

Another pad is placed in each compartment upon the top end edges of the first applied filler, at which time the bottom 25 of the projections 23 engage directly upon the intersecting portions of the strips I6. Thereafter, another film is arranged in position in each compartment upon the second pad therein and which iillers receive the eggs in the cells thereof, to form the second tier or layer of the stack being built up in each compartment.

The third, fourth and fifth tiers or layers are built up in each compartment and a pad is then placed upon the topmost filler in each of said compartments. If the eggs are of the ordinary size, the last pad applied is placed in position with the egg receiving side up. This provides in each compartment a stack of filled tiers or layers in each compartment, each comprising six top, bottom and intermediate pads and five alternate cellular iillers. As the iirst iive pads have an eective depth equal to that of the distance between the bottom surface of the projections 23 and the top surface of the sheet-like body and which distance is 1/4 of an inch and as the sixth one has an effective depth equal to the height of its Projections which is of an inch and as each of the five ller strips has a depth of 21/4 inches, the effective height of the stack is the total of ve times l/4 of an inch, plus five times 2% inches plus 1 times 5/8 inch which makes 131A; inches for the height of the stack overall.

As the compartments in which these stacks are arranged have a depth of 121/2 inches, as before mentioned, it is apparent that the stack projects above the top of the case the difference between 13% inches and 121/2 inches or of an inch before the cover is applied to the case to close the compartments. y

This means that there is an overage in height between the height of the stack and the depth of the compartment in which it is located and which overage must be taken up when the lid or cover for the case is applied thereto. The lid or cover is attached by driving nails through the ends thereof into the ends of the case so that the cover bows slightly at its middle to be spaced above the top of the partition I4 of the case.

When the cover is brought home into compartment closing position, on the case, a compression force is applied to each stack, which is absorbed by the egg spacing material in the various pads.

When relatively large eggs constitute the majority of the eggs packed in said compartments, the topmost pad is placed in said compartments, with the seats thereof facing upwardly, which is in the same direction as the seats in the other ve pads below, as shown in Fig. 6.

However, when the eggs in the top layer are relatively small, if desired, the pad at the top of the stack may be reversed to face the seats downwardly so that the areas 30 of the seats come substantially close to the top ends of the eggs in the top layer. When the top pad has been reversed, this reduces the height of the stack a distance equal to the height which the projections 29 extend above the top surface of the sheet-like body portion and which in this instance is 1%; of an inch.

The improved construction eliminates the necessity of the use of more than one kind of pad in a case. It does not require a new mode of manipulation in packing or unpacking an egg case nor does itrequire a particular arrangement of the pads in the case, by the person doing the packing.

Another advantage of the present arrangement over packing methods heretofore employed is that the cushioning effect is distributed throughout the stack and not concentrated primarily in the bottom cushion pad as before. Hence, there is less danger of egg breakage.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement, construction of the various parts employed, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A packing material in the form of a cushion pad embodying therein a sheet-like body portion having a depressed marginal portion and parts formed as right-angled rows of spaced apart unconnected depressions arranged at points coincident with the intersections of the strips of the cell forming fillers used with the pad, said depressions each having a bottom disposed in the plane of said marginal portion, other parts of said body portion being formed as article supporting seats arranged one within the area of each cell formed by the filler, each seat including a group of hollow upstanding projections arranged in spaced relation about a common central point for said group, and each projection being so formed in that side disposed radial with respect to said point as to provide an area of contact conforming to the associated part of the article to engage upon said projections.

2. A packing material in the form of a cushion pad embodying therein a sheet-like body portion having a. depressed marginal portion and parts formed as right angled rows of spaced apart unconnected depressions arranged at points coincident with the intersection of the strips of the cell forming llers used with the pad, said depressions each having a bottom disposed in the plane of said marginal portion, there being recesses in the margin of the body portion in line with said depressions and each having a bottom forming a continuation of said marginal portion, other parts of said body portion being formed as article supporting seats arranged one within the area of each cell formed by the ller, each seat including a group of hollow upstanding projections arranged in spaced relation about a common central point for said group, and each projection being so formed in that side disposed radial with respect to said point as to provide an area of contact conforming to the associated parts of the article to engage upon said projections.

WILLIAM J. DE REAMER. 

